Are Facts Obsolete? – Thomas Sowell at Townhall

Thomas Sowell has posted another piece, Are Facts Obsolete? at Townhall.com today. It is a piece that deserves to be read in understanding what Democratic nominee Barack Obama is doing in discussing the issues.

I have wonder where he stands on the issues since all he has talked to this point is about “change”. I keep asking myself what does he mean by “change”. Mr Sowell seems to echo my feelings on the “change” message:

As the hypnotic mantra of “change” is repeated endlessly, few people even raise the question of whether what few specifics we hear represent any real change, much less a change for the better.

So, does Mr Obama get any specifics on his “change”. From a previous post, I mention that it appears the “change” he proposes is a re-run of sorts. My comment:

From what I have learned, Mr Obama wants to apply policies to our economy that were tired in 1930s and foreign policies that were used in 1970s. This change sounds a lot like a re-run.

Mr Sowell reiterates it in this example:

Raising taxes, increasing government spending and demonizing business? That is straight out of the New Deal of the 1930s.

The New Deal was new then but it is not new now. Moreover, increasing numbers of economists and historians have concluded that New Deal policies are what prolonged the Great Depression.

Putting new restrictions of international trade, in order to save American jobs? That was done by Herbert Hoover, when he signed the Hawley-Smoot tariff when the unemployment rate was 9 percent. The next year the unemployment rate was 16 percent and, before the Great Depression was over, unemployment hit 25 percent.

I’ll admit that what was tried under the Hoover administration did not work, but FDR’s plan did not help either as many people would lead us to believe. What got us out of it was World War II. But, this seems to be overlooked.

But, with all this talk of “change”, one must look at what Mr Obama is doing now. He is positioning himself towards to the center again on these same issues, which is typical of modern day politicians. Ignore what I have said, but know I am on your side.

Mr Sowell’s provides several examples of what the politician does:

Politicians’ top priority is to solve their own problem, which is how to get elected and then re-elected.

What matters politically is the image of coming out on the side of “the people” against “the privileged.”

A politician’s problem is how to look like he is for “the poor” and against those who are “exploiting” them.

Mr Obama is no exception to this. Another fine example is Mr Bill Clinton. Of course, own representatives and senators can be included in this list. As Mr Sowell clear states in the following sentence:

The facts are irrelevant to maintaining that political image.

The Democratics are always good at this and always seem to get the upper hand in controlling the government with the help of the MSM. Unfortunately, the Democratic do not ever acknowledge this fact as Mr Sowell concludes this piece:

The consequences for the country come later.

A lot of what Mr Obama has said as been tried and did not work very well. Can we afford to try it again?